The correct response is:
Timbuktu was a center for learning similar to the institutions that preceded universities in Europe.
Timbuktu was significant in West Africa as a renowned center for education and scholarship during the medieval period. It housed prestigious institutions, such as the University of Sankore, which attracted scholars from various regions and fostered advancements in disciplines such as mathematics, astronomy, and philosophy, making it a key player in the intellectual and cultural exchanges of its time.